Sia’s performance will be limited to Dubai World Cup Ticket holders. Previous performers have included Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, and Janet Jackson.
1. Her origin story
Sia went on the Australian TV talent show The Have a Go Show when she was a tween. She said she was “an average singer at best”. “I was a slightly overweight, spiky-fringed, rat’s-tailed ‘80s girl who was just showing up. That’s all I’ve ever really done to get here, just kept showing up. Even when I didn’t want to. That’s what I do. I’ve just got to show up,” she said.
2. Her history (so far) with awards
Sia has never won a Grammy, but she’s been nominated for eight.
3. Her supernatural beliefs
Sia believes in the supernatural and thinks you should, too. She thinks “it would be unwise of us not to believe that there is life outside of us, intelligent life. And so I do believe in aliens.”
4. Her videos
The music video for Sia’s The Greatest was an unspoken dedication to the 49 victims of last year’s Orlando night club shooting.
5. <3
Shia LaBeouf, who collaborated with Sia for the contentious Elastic Heart music video, read out a love letter to the singer when he introduced her at the Grammy’s — but it was written by her husband, Erik Anders Lang. “I love you so. Punch me if I stop crying. I raised a white flag for you, defeated finally. If strength were made of broken pieces, you and I would always win. It is, though, and buildings and statues wink at us. I could squeeze you to zero. I’ll never know another. What am I going to do? Punch me if I stop crying, and I’ll do the same. Love, Erik,” LaBeouf read.
6. Filmography
Sia is currently working on a film with her husband, who is a director, based on a one-page story she wrote in 2007. The film, titled Sister, will feature her long-time collaborator, 14-year-old dancer and actress Maddie Ziegler.
7. On other artists
When Sia is working with other artists, they rarely meet. “They’ll entice me into a session by saying, ‘Rihanna will definitely be there’ or ‘Kanye will definitely be there,’ but it’s hilarious because I turn up and, almost always, they never come.”
8. Collaboration
According to Sia, Beyonce takes a Frankenstein-esque approach to collaboration, joining bits and pieces from different songwriters to hear them mixed together. “In the end, she had maybe 25 songs of mine on hold, and I was very excited to get a couple of them back,” Sia said.
9. On Katy Perry
One pop star that wasn’t Sia’s cup of tea: Katy Perry. Sia described her as “quite dominant, and she’s extremely analytical. I actually quit within the first hour of our first session.” Funny enough, both Chandelier and Elastic Heart had been intended for Perry, but came back to her.
10. On Adele
Sia’s album track Bird Set Free was meant for Adele, but her management said it sounded “too much like a Sia song”. At the time, Sia knew Adele would make more money with it. “But as my profile grows, my value increases as a pop star,” she said. “It’s fascinating to watch. Now, sometimes, it’s smarter for me to do the song myself than give it to someone else who three years ago I’d have desperately hoped would sing it.”
The Dubai World Cup after-race concert is limited to race ticket holders only. Apron Views tickets, starting at Dh450, are available online from store.meydan.ae.
